Beaufort County Court Records
Beaufort County court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court at the main courthouse in Beaufort. The county operates one of South Carolina's larger court systems, with multiple magistrate offices spread across communities including Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Case information is searchable through the Beaufort County Public Index at no cost. The Clerk handles Circuit Court and Family Court records, with court rosters for Common Pleas and jury trials available online. This page explains how to access Beaufort court records.
Beaufort Court Records Quick Facts
Beaufort County Clerk of Court
The Beaufort County Clerk of Court serves as the official record keeper for Circuit Court and Family Court proceedings in the county. The Clerk's office maintains court rosters for Common Pleas and jury trials, with access available online. Family Court matters are handled through a dedicated division, reachable at 843-255-5700. The Public Index is accessible and up to date for all Beaufort County court filings.
Beaufort County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit, which also includes Allendale, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. Circuit judges rotate among these counties for court sessions. This circuit arrangement allows shared judicial resources and consistent legal standards across a large geographic area of the Lowcountry region.
The official Beaufort County Clerk of Court website at beaufortcountysc.gov/clerk-of-court provides access to case records search, court rosters, and information about court services in Beaufort County.
The Beaufort County Clerk of Court website links to the Public Index, court rosters showing upcoming cases, and information about Master-in-Equity and Family Court procedures in the county.
Beaufort County Court Records Search Online
The quickest way to search Beaufort County court records is through the SC Public Index case records search at sccourts.org. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or filing date. No fee is charged and no registration is required for basic case information. The system covers Circuit Court and Family Court cases filed in Beaufort County.
The Beaufort County Public Index is designated as County Number 07 in the statewide court system. Some Municipal Court records for Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Port Royal may also be accessible through the system. Online payments for certain violations are available through the Public Index payment portal. Traffic ticket records are searchable through the summary court section of the index.
The SC Judicial Branch website provides contact information for all judges and court personnel serving Beaufort County, along with links to forms, fee schedules, and statewide court resources.
Note: Certified copies of court documents require a visit or written request to the Clerk's office. Online searches show summaries and docket entries, not full document images.
Beaufort County Circuit Court Records
The Circuit Court in Beaufort County handles two main divisions. General Sessions covers felony criminal cases and serious misdemeanors. Common Pleas handles civil matters where the amount in dispute exceeds $7,500. Filing a new civil case in the Circuit Court costs $150. The Circuit Court fee page on the SC Judicial Branch website has the full schedule.
Court rosters for Beaufort County list upcoming civil and criminal trials, hearing dates, and assigned judges. These rosters are posted online through the Public Index and updated regularly. Beaufort County also has a Master-in-Equity, who handles foreclosure proceedings and complex equity matters separately from the standard Circuit Court calendar. The Master-in-Equity role is important in a county with significant real estate activity.
Beaufort Family Court Records
Beaufort County Family Court handles divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and juvenile matters for the county. The Family Court division can be reached at 843-255-5700. The Family Court filing fee is $150 for divorce and custody cases per the Family Court fee schedule.
Family Court judges for the 14th Circuit bring specialized knowledge of domestic relations and juvenile law to these proceedings. Case information for family matters is searchable through the Public Index. However, many records in this division are sealed by law, including adoption files and juvenile cases. These restricted records are not accessible through standard public searches.
Child support questions should be directed to the State Disbursement Unit at 800-768-5858 rather than the local Clerk's office. Payments go to SC State Disbursement Unit, PO Box 100302, Columbia, SC 29202-3302.
Beaufort County Magistrate Court
Beaufort County has multiple magistrate locations serving different parts of the county. The Central Court South office is at 4819 Bluffton Parkway, 2nd Floor, Bluffton, SC 29910. Phone: (843) 255-5200. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Payment hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Another location serves the Hilton Head area at 539 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Traffic and criminal court information for Beaufort County Magistrate Court is explained at beaufortcountysc.gov/magistrate-court/court-information.html. It covers plea options, trial rights, and how to request a jury trial in Beaufort County summary court.
Defendants in Beaufort County Magistrate Court can plead guilty, not guilty, or nolo contendere. A jury trial request must be submitted in writing at least five days before the scheduled court date.
The Magistrate Court handles criminal offenses where fines do not exceed $500 or jail time does not exceed 30 days. Civil matters up to $7,500 also fall under magistrate jurisdiction. Appeals from magistrate decisions go to the Circuit Court and result in de novo trials. Online payments for magistrate court violations are available through the Public Index payment system for eligible cases.
Accepted in-person payments at the Bluffton location include cash (exact change only), credit card, money orders, and cashier's checks. Personal checks are not accepted at the magistrate window.
Beaufort County Probate Court
The Probate Court for Beaufort County has two locations. The main office is at 102 Ribaut Road, Suite 106, Beaufort, SC 29902, reachable at 843-255-5850. A second office serves Hilton Head Island at 843-255-5866. The court handles estate administration, will probate, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses.
Marriage licenses are issued at both Probate Court locations. Estate proceedings include probate of wills and administration of intestate estates. Guardianship cases protect the interests of minors and incapacitated adults. Most probate records are open to public inspection, with exceptions for adoption and mental health proceedings that are sealed by law.
Beaufort County Court Records and Criminal History
Statewide criminal background checks are available through the SLED CATCH portal for $25 plus convenience fees. This system provides name-based searches of South Carolina criminal history across all counties. Results are immediate when ordered online. SLED CATCH is maintained by the SC Law Enforcement Division and is the authoritative source for statewide criminal history data.
Contact the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for arrest records and warrant information specific to the county. The Magistrate Court also holds records of warrants and charges filed at the summary court level. Restricted records, including juvenile files and expunged matters, are not available through standard public searches.
FOIA and Public Record Access in Beaufort County
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act at S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-10 et seq. guarantees the right to inspect and copy public records. Court records in Beaufort County are generally open to public inspection, with legal exceptions for juvenile, adoption, and other sealed matters. See Title 30 of the South Carolina Code for the complete public records framework.
Records requests to the Beaufort County Clerk of Court should include the case number or party names, contact information, and payment for copy fees. In-person requests are accepted during regular business hours at the main courthouse in Beaufort. Mail requests follow standard processing timelines under state law, with a 10 business day response period required for written FOIA requests.
Nearby Counties
Beaufort County is in the 14th Judicial Circuit. These surrounding counties each maintain their own court records through the statewide Public Index.